Cuttings conveyer mechanism



C. F. OSGOOD CUTTINGS CONVEYER MECHANISM March 7, 1950 5. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1945 March 7, 1950 c.-.F. oscsoob I 2,499,872

CUTTINGS CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/WMW.

March 7, 1950 c. F. oscsooo CUTTINGS CONVEYER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 19, 1945 March 7, 1950 c. OSGOOD CUTTINGS CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STAT ES" P.

GUTTINGS CONVEYER' MEGHANISM Charles F. Osgood, Glaremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Companlba corporation. of

Pennsylvania 14 Claims.

This invention relates to cuttings conveyor mechanism and more particularly to an improved reversible cuttings conveyor mechanism adapted for association with a reversible coal cuttingmachinefor, removing the cuttings from the vicinity of, the cutter chain and for discharging the cuttings from the rear end of the machine during eitherdirection of cutting.

In coal cutting machines of the longwall type or the-shortwall type either'of which slides on its own bottom directly over the floor of a mine during the cutting operation, the kerf cutting mechanism is usually reversible and the flexible feeding means of the machine is usually reversible so that horizontal kerfs may be out near the, floor level in either of opposite directions, and reversal of the machine is usually effected by reve-rsingthe machine motor. In such coal cutting machines, the cutter chain of the kerf cutting mechanism brings back the cuttings from the kerf and discharges. the cuttings at the rear endoi the machine, and it is desirable in such machines, mechanically to convey the cuttings from the vicinity of the cutter chain and mechanically to discharge the cuttings in a rearward direction from the machine-to prevent the cuttings from piling up around the machine at the rear end of the cutting mechanism in such manner as to hinder the proper operation of the cutting mechanism; Such mechanical conveying means is usually attached to th rear end of the coal cutting machine and is preferably reversible so that it may operate to convey away the cuttings irrespective of the direction in which. the machine is. cutting. Such conveying mechanism must be efiicient in operation and rugged in design and must be capable of operation over long periods of time without undue attention. Also such. conveying mechanism must be readily detachable and readily reversible, and capable of being driven by, an element of the coal cutting machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cuttings conveyor mechanism.

Another object is to provide an improved reversible cuttings conveyor mechanism adapted for association with a reversible coal cutting machine whereby the cuttings may be removed from the vicinity of the cutter chain and discharged irom the machine irrespective of the H direction in which the machine is operating. A further object is to provide an improved cuttings conveyor mechanism capable of reverse operation by a simple transposition oiparts. A still further object isv to provide an improved re- 55 versible cuttings conveyor mechanism embodying a revoluble' diskyhaving a crank and a transposable-pusher arm-associated with said. disk and actuated. by said. crank and. having. improved mounting means: whereby the pusher arm may be transposed; into-reversed positions with respect to the disk. whereby the. arm may remove. the cuttings}. from; the: disk irrespectivev of the direction: in which: the disk. revolves. Still another object is; to: providean. improved reversible con-. veyor; mechanismi embodying a reversible crank disk: and. a. swingable; pusher arm. actuated thereby and' v embodying means whereby the arm; may be mounted in reversed positions withyrespect to. the. disk. to enable discharge: of.

the cuttings. irrespective, of. the direction in whichthedisk is-rotated; Astill further objectis .to' provide; an improved interchangeable. pusher arm. andguardstructure associated with a reversible'conveyorrdisk. Afurther object is 'to'provide; an. improved cuttings: conveyor mechanism which is: relatively simple and rugged in design:

andfoolproof.inxoperation, capable of operating forzlongiperiods of time without undu attention,

and. which maybe readily'reversed by asimpletransposition oia parts. These and other objects and advantages of the invention. will, however, hereinaftermore fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are. shownior, purposes of, illustration several forms.

which the invention -.may assume in practice.

Inthese. drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a longwall coal cutting machine with which an illustrative form-of f the, improvedcuttingstconveyor mechanism is associated.

Fig.2 is. a side elevational view of the coal.

cutting.machin and conveyor mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is'an enlarged-vertical view taken substantiallyon line :3-3:o-f Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontalsectional View taken substantially on line 4 l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5is a detail sectional View takenon line Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line I -IIl of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line I II I of Fig. 9.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive, the improved cuttings conveyor mechanism, generally designated I, is shown associated with a conventional longwall coal cutting machine of the flexibly fed floor type, generally designated 2. The coal cutting machine 2 may be similar to that disclosed in the Richards Patent No. 2,262,048, granted November 11, 1941, and comprises an elongated relatively low and narrow machine frame 3 slidable on its own bottom 4 directly on the floor of a mine. The machine frame carries centrally thereof a conventional reversible motor 5, and arranged on the frame in advance of the motor is a horizontal feed drum 6 on which a feed cable i is wound. The feed drum is operatively connected to the motor for driving thereof in a manner fully described in the patent above referred to. Pivotally mounted on the rearward portion of the machine frame, rearwardly of the motor, is an elongated plane cutter bar 8 having an endless cutter carrying chain 9 guided for circulation about its margin. The cutter chain is operatively connected to the motor through bevel gears I0 and II, spur gears I2 and I3, and a chain sprocket I4 connectible by a shiftable clutch I 5 to a vertical shaft I6 in driving relation with the gear IS. The cutter bar 8 is carried by a hanger frame I1 swivelled on the machine frame about an axis coincident with the rotation of the shaft I6, and a shiftable latch I8 guided in a recess in the machine frame is receivable in appropriately locking recesses I 9 in the hanger frame for locking the cutter bar in its different positions about its pivot, either lengthwise of the machine frame or in a right angle position at either side of the machine frame. The feed cable I is attachable to the hanger frame I! to effect swinging of the cutter bar about its pivot. When the cutter bar is swung from the full line position shown in Fig. 1 into the opposite right angle position indicated in dotted lines in that figure to effect reverse cutting, it is necessary to reverse the motor 5, rewind the feed cable on the feed drum and reverse the position of the cutters on the cutter chain. This reversible cutting feature is common in longwall coal cutting machines and is fully described in the above mentioned Richards patent.

As is also fully described in the patent above referred to, during the making of a horizontal cut in the coal with the coal cutting machine located near the coal face, the cutter bar 8 may be swung by the feed cable I horizontally from a position extending lengthwise of the machine frame to the right angle position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or to the dotted line position shown in that figure, to effect sumping of the cutter bar beneath the coal, and the cutter bar is thereafter locked to the machine frame by the latch I8. It will be understood that during the swinging movement of the cutter bar during the sumping operation, the cuttings conveying mechanism I is detached from the coal cutting machine. When the cutter bar is locked in a right angle position at either side of the machine frame and the cutter bar is sumped beneath the coal, the feed cable may be detached from the cutter bar hanger I1 and extended, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, longitudinally in a forward direction and attached at its free end to an anchor jack located in adjacency to the coal face in advance of the cutting machine. The cuttings conveying mechanism I is then attached to the rear end of the machine frame at the trailing side of the cutter bar in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and as the cutter chain 9 is rapidly circulated about the cutter bar and the feed cable I is wound in by the feed drum, the cutting machine is fed bodily in a forward direction along the coal face to make a horizontal cut in the coal near the floor level. During the making of the cut, the cuttings created by the cutters of the cutter chain and moved back from the kerf by the cutter chain will be, to a large extent, removed by the conveyin mechanism from the vicinity of the cutter chain and discharged rearwardly from the machine.

The cuttings conveying mechanism I comprises a casing to enclose the working parts, provided with any appropriate means for its convenient attachment to the rear end of the machine frame of the cutting machine. As shown herein, a detachable top plate 20 of the machine frame has an overhanging rearward portion to the bottom and at the sides of which are secured brackets 2 I, provided with longitudinal guideways 22 for receiving parallel lateral guides 23 on the conveyor casing. The conveyor casing is movable forwardly along the bracket guideways into abutting relation at 24 with a plane vertical abutment surface on the machine frame of the cutting machine, and when the conveyor casing is so positioned against the machine frame, the bottom of the conveyor casing abuts at 25 with the rear edge of a bottom plate 26 of the machine frame. The conveyor casing comprises a bottom plate 27 which slides over the mine floor and it is the rear edge of this plate which abuts at 25 the bottom plate 26. The bottom plate 2'! is secured by upright tie bolts 28 to an upper casing 29 on which the lateral guides 23 are formed. The upper part 29 of the conveyor casing has lateral armlike projections 30 at the opposite sides thereof and these projections have slots 3! for receiving eye-bolts 32 on which are threaded adjustable wing nuts 33. These eye-bolts are pivotally mounted on vertical pivot pins 34 carried by the brackets 2 I, and are swingable horizontally about their pivots from their released dotted line position, shown in Fig. 1, to their operative full line position shown in that figure in engagement with the projection-slots 3I, and when the wing nuts are tightened, the conveyor casing is clamped tightly against the rear end of the machine frame of the coal cutting machine. When the wing nuts are loosened and the eye-bolts are swung outwardly to their released positions, the conveyor may be'easily detached from the coal cutting machine simply by sliding the casing outwardly in a rearward direction.

The conveyor casing has a horizontal chamber 35 which communicates at its forward side with a horizontal chamber 36 within the machine frame, and the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain are received in the chamber 36 and the rapidly circulating cutter chain throws a large portion of the cuttings directly into the chamber 35 of the conveyor casing, as will be clearly apparent in Fig. 4. Arranged within the casing chamber 35 near the bottom of the casing is a circular table or disk 3'! which is mounted for rotation about an upright axis, and has its marginal portion at its forward side underlying the orbital path of the cutters of the return run of the cutter chain. The structure of the conveyor mechanism thus far described is amasseg'enerally' similar to that disclosed in the Richards:- Patent No. 2,278,119, granted March 31, 1942.

Now referring to the improved conveyor structure of thepresent invention, it will be noted that the revolving disk or tables! has an upstanding crank or eccentric portion 38; and secured as by screws 39 to the upper surface of the crank is a circular plate 40 having an offset upstanding hollow shaft 4! alined with the axis of table rotation. The shaft 41 is journaled in a bearing supported within the upper part 29 of the conveyor casing, and is keyed to a vertical shaft d2 passing through vertical bore in the crank 38 and journaled at its lower end beneath the table ina bearing supported within the bottom plate Z'i of the'conveyor casing. A dirt ring 43, arranged in grooves in the-bottom of the disk 3'5 and the top of the bottom plate 21, serves to prevent access of dirt to the lower bearing. Surrounding the crank 38 of the disk are bearing sleeves 44 on which is pivotally mounted an oscillatory armor link 45 which extends vertically between the top of the disk 3'! and the lower surface of the plate 49. This arm or link 45 has a radially projecting lug 46 to which are pivotally connected by a detachable vertical pivot 41 spaced lugs on one end of a horizontal swingable pusher arm 45. The pusher arm overlies the disk and extends along the open side of the casing-chamber 35 at the prop side of the coal cutting machine opposite to that from which the cutter bar projects, as shown in Fig. 4, and is pivotally mounted on a detachable vertical pivot pin 49 sup-ported at the outer side of the conveyor casing. The pusher arm is so arranged that when the disk 31 is rotated, the crank 38 and the arm or link 45 move in an orbital path to engage the cuttings in the casing-chamber and to move the cuttings rearwardly through the casing to discharge at the rear side of the casing; and the cuttings which move in back of the pusher arm 43 are forced laterally, as the pusher arm is swung by the crank, into the bottom of the pile of cuttings by the pusher arm. The crank 38 is spaced inwardly toward the center of the disk 3! from the disk periphery so that the marginal portion of the disk which passes beneath the cutter chain is located outwardly beyond the crank, and the arm or link 45 is arranged outside the cutter chain orbit so that it clears the cutters as the disk revolves. The open side of the casing-chamber 35 near the coal face is closed by a transposable guard plate 58 held at its forward end in position on the conveyor casing by-a detachable vertical pin and engaging at its grooved rear end at 52 one of the tie bolts 28. The pins 49 and 5| are identical and are so located on the conveyor casing that the guard plate 5!} and the pusher arm l8 may be interchanged to enable reverse operation of the conveyor in the manner shown in Fig. 6. Of course the conveyor mechanism is detached from the frame of the coal cutting machine when the cutter bar 8 is swung horizontally from its right angle position shown in Fig. 4 to the opposite right angle position shown in Fig. 6. The outer prop side of the cuttings receiving chamber 36 of the coal cutting machine is closed by a detachable guard 53 which engages at its grooved rear end at 54 one of the tie bolts 28 and isfirmly held in position by screws 55 engaging its front end, and this guard confines the cuttings inv the cuttings-receiving chamber 3% and directs them toward the chamber 35 of the con veyor casing. During the reverse cutting operation, the guard 53 may be transposed to the op- A It positeside of the coal cutting machine as shown in Fig. 6; I

Now referring to the driving means for. the conveyor disk or table 31', crank 38. and pusher arm 48, it will be noted thatkeyed to the upper end of the cutter chain drive shaft 16, as shown in Fig. 3, is a spur gear 55.. The spur gear 55. meshes with aspur gear 5'1, which in turn meshes with and drivesa spur gear 58: The upper end of the shaft it which carries the spur gear 56 and the vertical shafts 59. and 50. which carry the spur gears 5 and 58.respectively, are suit ably journaled in bearings supported within the top plate 20 of the coal. cutting machine. The shaft 60- of the gear. 58 isalso journaled in a lower bearing supported by a bracket 6| suitably secured to the rear end of the machine frame, and keyed to th lower end of. the shaft 68 is a spur gear 62 which. meshes with and drivesa spur gear 63. The gear 63' is connected by a friction clutch 64 to the upper end of the disk drive shaft 42. The clutch 64 is of a conventionalv design and is spring-loaded. and is set toslip upon overload so that in the event. the conveyor: becomes overloaded, the clutch will automaticallyslip to prevent damage to the conveyor parts. It is evident that the conveyor is driven by the machine motor 5 and when the machine motor is reversed to effect reversal. of the coal cutting machine, the conveyor is concurrently reversed. The disk or table 31. revolves inthe direction opposite to the direction of rota! tion of the chain drive sprocket it so that the cutter chain 9, as. it passes around the chain sprocket at the rear end of the cutter bar, throws the cuttings onto the disk, and the disk moves. the cuttings out of the path of the return run of the cutter chain and into the casing chamber.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 7, the conveyor casing i0 is of box-like construction and has its horizontal chamber 35" closed by vertical side walls H and the rear side of the casing is open at 12. A transposable pusher arm 48 extends transversely of the conveyor casing partially across th rear opening 12 and is pivoted on a detachable vertical pivot pin 13 at the outer side of the rear portion of the conveyor casing. As the disk 3'! revolves, the crank actuates the link 45' to move the cuttings rearwardly through the casing chamber to discharge at the rear end of the coal cutting machine and the pusher arm 48' forces the cuttings rearwardly into the bottom of the pile of cuttings in the machine track. A detachable pin M is located at the opposite side of the rear portion of the conveyor casing so that the position of the pusher arm 48' may be reversed during reverse operation of the conveyor. In this instance, the conveyor casing is attached to the rear end of the machine frame of the coal cutting machine by vertical pins 15 and the rear end of the transposable guard 53', which closes the outer side of the cuttings-receiving chamber 36, is fitted in a vertical groove it in the conveyor casing. Otherwise, this form is similar to that above described.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, a cuttings conveyor mechanism, generally designated 80, is associated with a conventional shortwall coal cutting machine, generally designated 8|. This coal cutting machine may be of the same general character as that disclosed in the Joy and Simmons Patent 2,131,- 178, granted September 2'7, 1938. The coal-cute 7 ting machine BI comprises a machine frame 82 slidable on its bottom 83 directly on the mine floor. Extending centrally forwardly lengthwise of the machine frame in rigid relation therewith is an elongated plane cutter bar 84 having a cutter carrying cutter chain 85 guided for circulation about its margin. The rearward portion of the cutter bar is arranged in a, horizontal bottom chamber 86 extending longitudinally within the lower portion of the machine frame so that the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain are moved rearwardly through the chamber 86 to discharge at the rear end of the machine. The cutter chain may be driven from a motor 81 at the forward end of the machine frame above the cutter bar through transmission connections fully described in the above mentioned Joy and Simmons patent and including a cutter chain drive sprocket 88 located at the rear end of the machine frame and which engages and drives the cutter chain. For feeding the machine during the cutting operation, there are provided feeding and controlling drums 89 and 90 arranged at opposit sides of the rearward portion of the machine frame and on which feeding and controlling cables 9| and 92 are respectively wound. During the feeding operation, the free ends of these cables are attached to anchor jacks respectively located at the coal face and the rib of the room of a mine and as the cables are wound in by the drums, the cutter bar may be sumped beneath the coal at one rib, thereafter be fed transversely across the coal face to cut a horizontal kerf beneath the coal, and finally the cutter bar may be withdrawn from the face at the opposite rib. The feeding drum 89 effects feeding of the machine and the controlling drum 90 controls the angle of the machine with respect to the coal face during the coal cutting operation in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. By reversing the motor 81, rewinding the cables on the drums and reversing the position of the cutters on the cutter chain, the machine may cut in the reverse direction. During either direction of cutting, the cuttings created by the cutters of the cutter chain are carried back from the kerf through the chamber 85 extending through the lower portion of the machine to discharge at the rear end of the machine.

The improved cuttings conveyor mechanism 80 is attached to the rear end of the coal cutting machine, rearwardly of the chain sprocket 88, and is arranged in such a manner that its conveying devices remove the cuttings from the vicinity of the rearward portion of the cutter chain at the rear end of the chamber 86 and convey the cuttings to discharge rearwardly of the machine out of the machine path. The conveyor mechanism comprises a box-like lower casing 93 slidable on its bottom on the mine floor and having forwardly projecting side portions 94 secured by screws 95 to the sides of the machine frame of the coal cutting machine. Mounted on the top of the lower casing portion $3 is an upper housing 96 having a detachable upper portion 97. The lower casing portion 93 has a horizontal chamber 98 which, when the conveyor casing is attached to the machine frame, communicates directly With the rear end of the chamber S6 so that the cuttings moved rearward by the cutter chain in the chamber 86 are discharged into the chamber. Arranged in the casing at the bottom of the chamber 98 is a circular disk or table 3'!" having its forward marginal portion arranged near the outer boundary of the orbit of the cutters of the cutter chain. This disk has an upstanding crank or eccentric portion 38 to which an oscillatory arm or link is pivotally connected, and this link has a projecting lug pivotally connected at 41' to one end of a transposable pusher arm 48". The pusher arm is pivotally mounted on a detachable pivot pin 49 at the side of the conveyor casing at the receding side of the coal cutting machine. The side of the casing chamber 98 at the advancing side of the coal cutting machine is closed by a transposable guard secured by a detachable pin 5| at its forward end to the conveyor casing. As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the grooved rear end of the guard engages at 52' one of the tie bolts 28. The pusher arm 48" is so arranged that when the disk 31 is rotated, the crank 38 and arm or link 45" move in an orbital path to engage the cuttings in the casing chamber and to move the cuttings rearwardly through the casing to discharge at the rear side of the casing; and the cuttings which move in back. of the pusher arm 48" are forced laterally into the bottom of the pile of cuttings by the pusher arm. As in other embodiments, the pins 49 and 5| are identical and are so located that the guard and pusher arm may be interchanged to enable reverse operation of the conveyor.

In this illustrative embodiment, the driving means for the conveyor disk, crank and pusher arm comprises a shaft 99 (Fig. 9) extending longitudinally within the machine frame and whose direction of rotation is reversed whenever the motor 8! is reversed to effect reversal of the coal cutting machine. The shaft 99 is clutched at 100 at its rear end to the hub of a cone if]! of frictional cone clutch similar to the clutch 54 above described. The clutch cone is spring-loaded and naled on a vertical shaft I08, the latter in turn being suitably journaled within the housing. The gear I01 is connectable by a shiftable clutch member I69 to the shaft H38 and formed on the lower end of the shaft is a spur gear HG meshing with a spur gear I (see also Fig. 11). The gear ill meshes with and drives a spur gear H2 which is secured to the vertical drive shaft 42 for the revolving disk 37. It is evident that the disk is driven through the connections above described in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cutter chain drive sprocket 88 and the cutter chain, as it passes around the chain sprocket 88 throws the cuttings onto the conveyor disk. It will be noted that the disk, crank and arms are so arranged that a large portion of the cuttings is discharged laterally from the easing, a feature of importance when the roof props are located close to the rear end of the coal cutting machine.

As a result of this invention, an improved cuttings conveyor mechanism is provided, adapted for attachment to a conventional coal cutting machine for effectually removing the cuttings from adjacency to the cutter chain and for discharging the cuttings rearwardly from the machine. By the provision of the mounting for the transposable pusher arm, it is possible, by a simple transposition of parts, to effect operation of the cuttings conveyor mechanism selectively in either of opposite directions. By the provision of "but a single reversible conveyor disk arranged in the manner disclosed and the particular arrangement of the crank and arms,'not-only is a relatively simple and rugged structure attained, but also conveying of the cuttings from the machine is effected in an extremely efiicient manner. By the provision of the driving means disclosed for the conveyor-disk, reversal of the disk is efiected Whenever the machine motor is reversed to reverse the coal cutting machine. Other uses and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described several forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modifled and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit'or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism comprising, in combination, a casing having a chamber for receiving cuttings, asingle reversible circular table journaled in said casing at the bottom of said chamber to revolve about an upright axis for moving the cuttings rearwardly in said chamber irrespective of the direction of table rotation, said table having an upstanding crank, transposable pusher-arm means actuated by said crank for removing the cuttings from said table during either direction of rotation thereof and for positively ejecting the cuttings from said'casing, and supporting means on said casing for pivotally supporting said pusher-arm means in either of the transposed positions of said pusherarm means.

2. A reversible cuttings conveyor mechanism adapted for association with a reversible coal cutting machine of the kind having a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising a single reversible table journaled to revolve about an upright axis and having its peripheral portion adapted to lie close to the orbit of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the vicinity of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter, said table having an upstanding crank the axis of which is spaced from the axis of rotation of said table, a transposable pusher-arm overlying said table and actuated by said crank for positively moving the cuttings rearwardly with respect to-said table, andmounting means .for said pusher arm whereby the latter may be supported in reversed positions with respect tosaid table, said arm-being mounted in one position with respect to said table during table rotation in one direction and mounted in a reversed position with respect to said table during table rotation in the opposite direction.

3. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism adapted for association with a reversible coal cutting machine having a reversible endless circulating cutter chain comprising, in combination,

ation, .a transposable guard-disposed at the other .side oi ssaid disk .for confining the cuttings thereon, and mounting means for said arm and guard whereby the same may be interchangeably supported in either of their transposedpositions with respect to said disk.

4. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism adapted for attachment'to a reversible coal cutting machine having a reversible endless circulating cutter chain comprising, in combination, a casing attachable to the coal cutting machine and having a chamber adapted to receive the cuttings discharged from the coal cutting machine, a reversible circular horizontal table arranged in said casing near the bottom of said chamber for moving the cuttings from the vicinityof the cutter :chain irrespective of the direction of operation of the cutting machine, said chamber having-open sides,-and said table having an upstanding crank, a pusher arm actuated by said crankandarranged at one open side of said chamber for removing said cuttings from said table and :for positively ejecting the cuttings laterally from said casing, a guard closing the opposite open side of said chamber, said guard and said arm being interchangeable, and said casing having mounting means for said arm and-guard for supporting the latter in either of the interchanged positions thereof.

5. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism .for a reversiblecoal cutting machine of the endless circulating reversible cutter chain type, the combination comprising a single reversible revolving table journaled for rotation about an upright axis and having a marginal portion adapted to lie close to the cutter chain for moving the cuttings from the vicinity of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter, said table having an upstanding crank, a pusher arm overlying said table and actuated by said crank, and means whereby said arm may be transposed into reversed positions with respect to said table so that said arm may remove the cuttings from said table during either direction of table rotation.

'6. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism comprising, in combination, a casing having a chamber for receiving cuttings and having closed sides and open ends, a single reversible circular table journaled in said casing at the bottom of said chamber to revolve about an upright axis for moving the cuttings through said casing chamber, said table having an upstanding crank, transposable'pusher-arm means extending transversely of said casing at the open rear end of said chamber for removing the cuttings "from said table and for positively ejecting the cuttings rearwardly from said casing, and supporting meanson the rearward portion and at the'opposite sides of said casing for pivotally supporting said pusher-arm 'means in either of the transposed positions thereof.

7. In a reversible cuttings conveying mechanism for a reversible coal cutting machine of the reversible endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a reversible rotary conveyor device adapted to operate in either of opposite directions in accordance with the direction of cutting of a coal cutting machine for removing the cuttings from the vicinity of the cutter chain of the cutting machine, said conveyor device including a reversible horizontal disk journaled for rotation onan upright axis and having its marginal portion adapted to run close to the cutter chain orbit, trans-posable cuttings-ejector means operatively-connected to said disk foractuation thereby and overlying said disk for removing the cuttings from said disk and for positively ejecting the cuttings, and mounting means for said ejector means whereby the latter may be transposed into reversed positions with respect to said disk.

8. In a reversible cuttings conveying mechanism, the combination comprising a casing, a reversible cuttings conveying disk arranged in said casing to revolve on a vertical axis located midway between the sides of said casing and adapted to receive the cuttings discharged from a coal cutting machine during either direction of operation of the latter, said disk having a crank, a transposable pusher arm pivotally mounted on said casing and pivotally connected to said crank whereby said crank eflects swinging of said arm during disk rotation, and means for pivotally mounting said arm on said casing selectively in either of its transposed positions whereby said arm may remove said cuttings from said disk during either direction of rotation of said disk.

9. In combination, a shortwall coal cutting machine including a frame having a motor thereon and a cutter bar extending forwardly lengthwise thereof, a cutter chain mounted on said cutter bar and extending rearwardly along said frame and below said motor and around a drive sprocket at the rear end, a driving connection between said motor and said sprocket providing for reverse driving of said sprocket and cutter chain whereby said machine may cut kerfs while feeding said cutter bar laterally in opposite directions, and reversible cuttings conveying mechanism mounted within the lateral confines of said frame and closely adjacent to the rear end of said cutter chain and operative to receive cuttings carried rearwardly by said cutter chain and adapted to discharge them from said machine for reverse operation thereof and reverse travel of said cutter chain, said cuttings conveying mechanism including a single horizontal disk rotating on an upright axis located midway between the sides of said frame, transposable cuttings-moving means operatively connected to said disk for actuation thereby for removing the cuttings from said disk and for positively ejecting the cuttings rearwardly out of the machine path, and mounting means for said cuttings-moving means for supporting the latter in either of the transposed positions, the aforedescribed construction providing a compact shortwall type coal cutting machine.

10. The combination with a reversible shortwall coal cutting machine adapted to cut in either of opposite directions including a cutter bar connected to the front end of a frame adapted to rest on and slide over a mine floor when the machine is fed transversely of the cutter bar, and a reversible cutter chain on said cutter bar extending along the bottom of said machine to a chain drive sprocket adjacent the rear end thereof, of reversible cuttings conveying mechanism at the rear end of said cutting machine and rearwardly of said cutter chain and drive sprocket and in position to receive cuttings from said cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter and move them in a direction away from the cutting machine, said cuttings conveying mechanism including a casing, a large circular reversible table mounted in said casing for rotation on an upright axis located midway between the sides of the machine, a transposable cuttings-moving member overlying said table and operatively connectedto said table for actuation thereby for moving the cuttings from said table irrespective of the direction of rotation of said table, and mounting means on said casing for supporting said cuttings-moving member in either of its transposed positions with respect to said table, said cuttings-moving member acting when in one position to move the cuttings laterally from said table when the machine is fed in one direction and said cuttings-moving member when transposed into its reversed position acting to move the cuttings laterally from said table in the opposite direction when the machine is fed in the opposite direction.

11. The combination with a reversible shortwall coal cutting machine adapted to cut in either of opposite directions including a cutter bar connected to the front end of a frame adapted to rest on and slide over a mine floor when the machine is fed transversely of the cutter bar, and a reversible cutter chain on said cutter bar extending along the bottom of said machine to a chain drive sprocket adjacent the rear end thereof, of reversible cuttings conveying mechanism at the rear end of said cutting machine and rearwardly of said cutter chain and said drive sprocket and in position to receive cuttings from said cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter and move them in a direction away from the cutting machine, said cuttings conveying mechanism including transposable cuttings-moving means for ejecting the cuttings laterally at the receding side of the machine irrespective of the direction in which the machine is fed, and mounting means for said cuttingsmoving means for supporting the latter in either of its transposed positions, said cuttings-moving means when in one position acting to eject the cuttings laterally in one direction when the machine is fed in one direction and said cuttingsmoving means when in its transposed reversed position acting to eject the cuttings laterally in the opposite direction when the machine is fed in the opposite direction.

12. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism adapted for association with a reversible coal cutting machine of the kind having reversible orbitally moving kerf cutting devices guided for circulation in a cuttings-receiving chamber within the frame of the machine, comprising a casing attachable to the machine frame of the coal cutting machine and having a chamber for receiving the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutting devices and discharged from said machine frame chamber, and cuttings moving means in said casing chamber for moving the cuttings rearwardly therein and for positively ejecting the cuttings therefrom, said cuttings moving means including a transposable cuttings-moving-andejecting element, means for pivotally mounting said cuttings-moving-and-ejecting element on said casing at one side of the latter in either of the transposed positions of said element, and said element when in either of its transposed positions projecting horizontally inwardly toward the opposite side of said casing, and means to which said element is operatively connectable in either of the transposed positions of said element for swinging said element horizontally back and forth on its pivotal mounting to cause said element to engage the cuttings and move the cuttings rearwardly in and eject the cuttings so moved from said casing chamber.

13. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism comprising, in combination, a casing having a chamber for receiving cuttings, a reversible circular table arranged at the bottom of said chamber and journaled in said casing to revolve about an upright axis, a detachable oscillatory pusher arm pivoted at one end on said casing and transposable into reversed inverted positions with respect to said table, said pusher arm being operatively connected to said table for oscillation thereby and serving to move the cuttings on said table lateral- 1y from said casing irrespective of the direction of table rotation, and pivotal mounting means at the opposite sides of said casing for pivotally supporting said pusher arm in its reversed transposed positions With respect to said table, said mounting means including supporting portions and cooperating pivot elements at the sides of said casing with which the pivoted end of said pusher arm is selectively engageable.

14. A reversible cuttings conveying mechanism comprising, in combination, acasing having a chamber for receiving cuttings and having open sides, a reversible circular table arranged at the bottom of said chamber and journ aled in said casing to revolve about an upright axis, a detachable guard closing an open side of said casing for confining the cuttings on said table, a detachable oscillatory pusher arm pivotally mounted on said casing in the other open side thereof and operatively connected to said table for oscillation thereby, said pusher arm serving to move the cuttings on said table laterally through the open side of the casing in which the arm is mounted, and mounting means at the opposite sides of said casing for said guard and pusher arm wherebi the same may be interchangeably supported in inverted reversed positions with respect to said table respectively to confine the cuttings and to enable removal of the cuttings during either direction of table rotation, said mounting means including supporting portions common to said guard and pusher arm and releasable supporting elements cooperating with said supporting portions and either adapted to serve as a guard-securing element or :an arm pivot element.

CHARLES F. OSGOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,278,119 Richards Mar. 31, 1942 2,320,307 Saville May 25, 1943 2,359,422 Jeffrey Oct. 3, 1944 

